weekly scenes & a little reflection

As we get older, we all have to learn: life is not always going to be easy. 

You won't always get to spend as much time together as you wish. 

You'll work too late.

Your phone will break.

You car insurance will be overdue.

You'll get frustrated with yourself.

You'll feel all alone.

You'll have to put up with unhappy situations.

You're schedules won't line up.

You. Just. Won't. Know. What. To. Do.

At some point, I don't care who you are, you're going to feel all of these things. Myself, I'm not immune to it. Last week I found myself bawling because life just felt too overwhelming. I didn't feel like myself, I felt so silly for being upset. And the worst part was that I couldn't figure out how to make myself feel better. I had no action plan for happiness, and so I dove even deeper into sadness.

The only thing I knew to do was to go to every yoga class I possibly could. After the first class, I felt a tiny lift in emotion, but still, life was walking through a haze, going through the motions, unclear of a vision. With each practice I felt a little more optimistic, and then I found myself in a class where the teacher prompted with exactly what I needed.

"Today, use your practice to rid your body of all the emotions and memories that are no longer serving you. Wring them out, and leave them behind on the mat."

I felt a fire.

I sweat and pushed more than ever. I felt strong, balanced, flexible....I felt confident for the first time in a week. This sadness, it wasn't serving me. I decided right then and there to grow up.

And I'm not saying that I'll never get down about life ever again. Life is a pendulum. But I think that part of becoming an adult is accepting that it won't always be easy. We want someone to hold our hand and make it all ok, but only we can do that for ourselves now. Let go of what isn't serving you, and embrace what will.

And now, to focus on the positive, some weekly scenes of all the GOOD things that have happened lately...

A visit to Kinfolk in Brooklyn.

My first Rockaway taco

Custom Power Ride shredin it up at Connie's Ric Rac and a good night with new friends.

Hanging with Free People's Open Call winners in Brooklyn & shooting behind the scenes.

Working with Adam to write a review on our favorite new brunch spot

Hanging around Greensgrow way too much.

A tasty recipe post I had the opportunity to write for the fine blog over at Everyday Minerals

Learning about Aromatherapy and connecting with inspiring women in my own community.

weekly scenes

Life has taken a turn for the busier. You'll have to forgive me for the silence that has ensued because of it. I know I've barely shared a peep, but I must admit, I don't feel entirely horrible about it. It's important to get out and experience life that is not set behind a computer screen. With the recent shift in weather, I've been making it a point to do so. I've been chasing dreams, laying in the grass, cooking up a storm, biking EVERYWHERE just because I can, and trying to make it to as many yoga classes as possible.

I do want to call out a few special moments that have happened recently though....

1. Adam's band had their first show! It was such a fun night of free beer, free souls, and free rock n' roll.

2. We finally bought a vine! Now I just want more. :)

3. This little one is back in my life and we've been having a ball. This shot was taken while enjoying the weather at Penn Treaty park on a Saturday afternoon.

4. My new favorite thing is to pick up fresh fish from Ipolito's Seafood. They got what's good.

5. Check out this post I did on cream vs. oil moisturizer! I'm a total convert.

6. Yes, succulent vines do exist. And yes, I will own one someday.

7. God I love this girl. She is one of the best, kindest, funniest, good-to-be-around people you'll ever come across. Anyone who gets to meet her in their life is damn lucky. I'm so happy to have been one of those people!

8. I almost started a chicken farm in our way-too-small of a backyard when I met these babes (or should I say chicks) at Greensgrow. 

9. Adam & I started a food blog! Go check it out!

Oh, and I'm heading to San Diego next month! Anyone with suggestions of where I should go, visit, stay, eat, etc. please drop me a line in the comments! I hope everyone's spring is off to as glorious a start as my own. Much love. xx

a free people event

Tuesday night was Free People's Winter Tale event! I've been working on the event for over a month now, and it was great to see it all come to life. We had hard cider with Snap from Art in the Age, vegan treats, a curated shop of picks from Refinery29, and live music by Alexandra Stewart. Planning and putting on these events is a passion of mine. I love the knitty gritty of setting up, the creativity of planning, and the fun of meeting all new (and some old) people. It was a magical night. I hope that everyone who came out thought so too. 

All product available at FreePeople.com

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you're the one that I want

My friends showed me this song earlier this week, and I can't stop. I've always been a fan of Angus Stone, but I somehow missed this one with is sister, Julia Stone.

Image source.

ringing rocks

On Saturday, Adam and I visited the mysterious Ringing Rocks in Bucks County, PA. A strange and beautiful phenomenon found right in the middle of nature, the field of sonorous boulders create different pitches when struck with a hammer. You can tap around and make varying tunes, but scientists have yet to find out exactly why the rocks ring. According the VisitPhilly.com they have looked for reasons, such as high background radiation, abnormal magnetic fields, or strange electromagnetic activity, but haven't found any explanations. There are other fields around the world, in places such as Montana and Western Australia, where the abnormality has mysteriously occurred. Perhaps we'll just have to be content enjoying their music without a scientific explanation as to why.

she lit a fire

(image via here)

--

I've been through the desert

And I've been across the sea

I've been walking through the mountains

I've wandered through the trees

For her

I have been trying to find her

Want to give what I got

She lit a fire

--

Listen: She Lit a Fire by Lord Huron

one big holiday

Many a days I have My Morning Jacket on repeat. Today it's the "It Still Moves" album. There is something so soothing and classic feeling about it. Perfect music to get you through a long day at work.

Listen: One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket

old pine

(image via here)

We stood

Steady as the stars in the woods

So happy-hearted

And the warmth rang true inside these bones

As the old pine fell we sang

Just to bless the morning.

Hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags,

I've come to know the friends around you

Are all you'll always have

Smoke in my lungs, or the echoed stone

Careless and young, free as the birds that fly

With weightless souls now.

--

Listen:

Old Pine by Ben Howard